By: Alexander Burns | October 17, 2018

The former director of Shelby County Correction Center has resigned after his offensive posts on his personal Facebook account were brought to light. A WMC Action News 5 viewer brought Mr. David Barber’s racist statements to the attention of the media, leading to the correctional director’s resignation.

The posts in question referred to former president Barack Obama as president “Obummer” and First Lady “Mooshell.” Unsurprisingly, Barber’s comments have triggered a strong reaction from the local community.

“I was offended,” said Mark Luttrell, the Mayor of Shelby County, in reference to posts that compared the Ku Klux Klan to the former president, stating that the white supremacist group were more American than Barack Obama was. “I think anybody who read it would be offended. It was horrible. It was very offensive.”

Mr. Luttrell has confirmed that he was not aware of the posts until it was brought to his attention by the WMC news viewer’s investigation into Mr. Barber and his posts.

When the posts first came to the public’s attention, the correctional director placed under investigation but not immediately terminated – an action the Mayor’s department avoided to ensure that the investigation proceeded legitimately.

Mr. Luttrell confirmed that Mr. Barber’s actions meant termination was the only option, stating that: “This was an action by an employee who should have known better. Mr. Barber’s personal Facebook page clearly links him to Shelby County, leaving him held in high standard because of his role in the County. What he did, his behavior was intolerable; it was offensive.

We afforded him his rights and due process. He recognized his discretion an [resigned].” Following the incident, Mr. Luttrell has assured the public that his department is looking to implement a social media policy, if one does not exist already.

Rather than wait to be fired, Mr. Barber resigned from his position “after discussing the offensive nature of the comments and the impact that would have on the corrections center,” opting to receive his benefits package from the Shelby County.

While Mr. Barber was employed as the Director of Shelby County Correction Center for 17 years, the public and officials are outraged that Mr. Barber will receive his benefits despite his behavior.

“There is no prescription for those kinds of beliefs and attitudes,” Mr. Luttrell reaffirmed. “There is nowhere this should be accepted and I am disappointed in the leadership and how it was handled.”

Pamela Ramsey Taylor, Director of the Clay County Development Corp. in West Virginia, was also in hot water after she tweeted an offensive tweet about Michelle Obama, the former first lady. “It will be so refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady back in the White House,” Ms. Taylor wrote. “I’m tired of seeing an Ape in heels.”

Ms. Taylor was immediately removed from her position alongside Mayor Beverly Whaling, who approved the comment. Mr. Barber, nor Ms. Taylor could be reached to comment on the matter.